Matthijs de Ligt / signs for Juventus, lowering their average age to 56

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

Probably more a product of the team style of play rather than his quality as a passer.

Yeah, you’re right, most of the passes were 5 yard sideways passes to his CB partner and Fernandinho

 

[Ajaxsuarez]

I haven’t watch Ajax game this season (should have watch the one against Bayern), but tell me one player with age who is or was on the same level as De Ligt right now. You made him sounds like he’s already a matured centre back with good leadership skills at the back.

That's because he bizarrely is. If Mbappe can be one of the best forwards in the world at 19, why can't De Ligt be one of the best centrebacks?

Also his performance in the first game vs Bayern was immense:

his performance in the second was one of his weaker performances, as it was for a lot of the team (especially De Jong, who had the worst match of his career)

 

[Ajaxsuarez]

I think Bergwijn and Locadio are currently the Kežman, Afonso Alves, Klaassen or even Depay type of players who are excellent for the Eredivisie, French or German league at best, but won't make it at say Everton. Good players, but just that extra bit of class, speed or psychical aspect missing which is needed to make it at the highest level.

Nonsense, Bergwijn has a lot more top-level quality than a Klaassen ever possessed. Bergwijn has technical quality and acceleration to make it to a much higher level.

 

[Ajaxsuarez]

Well, both those players kinda left PSV due to attitude problems before they ever really broke through there. Nobody thought either was ready to take any sort of step upwards. Neither compares to Bergwijn. How good Bergwijn can be we'll have to see but I think he's a very impressive talent and think he would do great at Ajax. It's not realistic though but it would be fun.

It's crazy that that generation in the Ajax academy had Nouri, Bergwijn, Van de Beek, Fosu-Mensah, Dilrosun, Mazraoui, Rosario, Sandler in the same U12-U14 team.

That's 5 Dutch internationals, a Moroccan international, a possibly future Dutch international (capped at least), and then the biggest talent of all who is tragically in a vegetative state for the rest of his life...

+ supplemented with De jong at a later (obviously) stage

 

[Harry190]

I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up at United. English teams are the one who value them more than others.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

That's because he bizarrely is. If Mbappe can be one of the best forwards in the world at 19, why can't De Ligt be one of the best centrebacks?

Also his performance in the first game vs Bayern was immense:

his performance in the second was one of his weaker performances, as it was for a lot of the team (especially De Jong, who had the worst match of his career)

You are comparing an attacker with a centre back. A centre back is developed differently than an attacker. Instead of using an attacker, can you please name me an either current or ex centre back with their age that is on the same level as De Ligt’s current level?

Is his current level right now on the same level as Terry 25 years old? 25 years old Rio? Or may be 25 years old Ledley King.

I’m asking this just want to know how mature actually he is in the game because teenager tends to be inconsistent when they are playing, especially if they end up playing outside eredivise.

 

[Rauður Djöfull]

Sign him up, don't care what he costs, just get it done!

I was on the him or Koulibaly but feel like he has to be the way, with his class already and high ceiling, both will cost lot and if we are lucky and play the next few years right we might be looking at a longe term servant in a team with some great young talent, could mature into a really promising strong squad with just a few right signings, he is one of those

 

[Bwuk]

Personally think he'd be arguably the best signing we could make this summer.

He's class.

 

[arthurka]

Koulibaly should be our priority. We need a ready for action CB.
We also need RW a RB and a CM .

Dont get where we will get 300m to buy all of them..

 

[Aloysius's Back 3]

You are comparing an attacker with a centre back. A centre back is developed differently than an attacker. Instead of using an attacker, can you please name me an either current or ex centre back with their age that is on the same level as De Ligt’s current level?

Is his current level right now on the same level as Terry 25 years old? 25 years old Rio? Or may be 25 years old Ledley King.

I’m asking this just want to know how mature actually he is in the game because teenager tends to be inconsistent when they are playing, especially if they end up playing outside eredivise.

To be fair that is why de ligt is so highly rated. He at an early age is arguably defending like a defender would be doing a year or two away from their prime.

The fact that we can't give an answer to a player like him is nothing but a compliment. I'd say Varane when he was young is the only one I remember in recent times where he was arguably playing ready made football +-20% at such an early age.

 

[Bwuk]

Koulibaly should be our priority. We need a ready for action CB.
We also need RW a RB and a CM .

Dont get where we will get 300m to buy all of them..

You reckon? I think this summer we actually will spend ridiculous amounts and back whoever the manager is. Club knows we are in a mess.

 

[Brightonian]

If you offered me any transfer this summer this is the one I'd take. He's what De Gea was - an almost sure thing at a freakishly young age.

 

[Bergman]

Think Barca is still the most likely destination. Long term replacement for Pique. If the assumption is that after paying for De Jong they wont have the money, they can easily offset that with sales of players like Malcom, Rakitic and Rafinha.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

Think Barca is still the most likely destination. Long term replacement for Pique. If the assumption is that after paying for De Jong they wont have the money, they can easily offset that with sales of players like Malcom, Rakitic and Rafinha.

But, they still have the 4 other CBs.

 

[Suedesi]

Part of having a DoF is understanding and committing to a timeline. My opinion is that we are still building for 2 more seasons and then ready to take the power back away from City/Liverpool. To think we could do that next year would show naivety and the same sort of poor planning that has us where we are now. Koulibaly would not fit the timeline of our trajectory as well as De Ligt, not to say he would be a bad signing. We are realistically still 2-3 years away from getting back to the mountain top. When Rashford, Martial, Pogba are really hitting their primes. But we still need to build an entire back line potentially and build out quite a bit of our midfield as the players around Pogba age. Buying a player like Koulibaly (yes, I know he is not old) suggests we can make it to the mountain top next year which I don't think is true.

I hope we do everything in our power to land this kid as I think it's the less expensive medium to long term move since he wouldn't need replacing for ages and the more logical player to add to what is starting to look like a stunning core of young players.

Good post!

 

[arthurka]

You reckon? I think this summer we actually will spend ridiculous amounts and back whoever the manager is. Club knows we are in a mess.

I just don´t see it happen.
We have never spent 300m in one transfer window, don´t see it happening myself.

 

[charlenefan]

I still dont think him and Lindelof is a good pairing, I think if you get De Ligt you relegate Lindelof to 3rd choice and still need a partner for De Ligt

 

[NYAS]

I still dont think him and Lindelof is a good pairing, I think if you get De Ligt you relegate Lindelof to 3rd choice and still need a partner for De Ligt

Correct. Koulibaly.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

If he's genuinely as absurdly talented as people claim and a proper leader to boot, I think we should go nuts and throw the lot at it. Even if it takes 100 million. Getting in a figure like Terry/Rio/Vidic in today's market for possibly a decade (or another record sale) is absolutely worth in given players like Pulisic are worth 60.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Think Barca is still the most likely destination. Long term replacement for Pique. If the assumption is that after paying for De Jong they wont have the money, they can easily offset that with sales of players like Malcom, Rakitic and Rafinha.

There has to be a limit though? They've signed Malcom, Coutinho, Vidal, Dembele, Lenglet, Arthur and De Jong in a very short space of time. And they're actually somewhat short on forwards - Messi, Suarez, Dembele, misfit Coutinho and .. Kevin Prince Boateng??

Their wages must be through the roof and apparently Rabiot will be joining too.

So I'm skeptical about the Barcelona links.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I still dont think him and Lindelof is a good pairing, I think if you get De Ligt you relegate Lindelof to 3rd choice and still need a partner for De Ligt

No problem with that whatsoever. Lindelof still has to prove himself here anyway although he's been better of late.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Koulibaly should be our priority. We need a ready for action CB.
We also need RW a RB and a CM .

Dont get where we will get 300m to buy all of them..

Surely we can manage a cheap deal here and there? Also every player doesn't cost 100 million anyway.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

That's because he bizarrely is. If Mbappe can be one of the best forwards in the world at 19, why can't De Ligt be one of the best centrebacks?

Also his performance in the first game vs Bayern was immense:

his performance in the second was one of his weaker performances, as it was for a lot of the team (especially De Jong, who had the worst match of his career)

That last tackle was quality.

 

[De Portago]

There has to be a limit though? They've signed Malcom, Coutinho, Vidal, Dembele, Lenglet, Arthur and De Jong in a very short space of time. And they're actually somewhat short on forwards - Messi, Suarez, Dembele, misfit Coutinho and .. Kevin Prince Boateng??

Their wages must be through the roof and apparently Rabiot will be joining too.

So I'm skeptical about the Barcelona links.

If he really is that good and actually prefers signing there and continuing playing alongside De Jong they might pull out all the stops. I'm fairly certain Rakitić will be off in the summer, if Rabiot signs maybe another midfielder. Wouldn't be surprised to see Coutinho go too, especially if Valverde is retained for the next season.

 

[Zlatattack]

That's because he bizarrely is. If Mbappe can be one of the best forwards in the world at 19, why can't De Ligt be one of the best centrebacks?

Also his performance in the first game vs Bayern was immense:

his performance in the second was one of his weaker performances, as it was for a lot of the team (especially De Jong, who had the worst match of his career)

He looks like the kind of talent we ought to remortgage for in order to sign.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

If he really is that good and actually prefers signing there and continuing playing alongside De Jong they might pull out all the stops. I'm fairly certain Rakitić will be off in the summer, if Rabiot signs maybe another midfielder. Wouldn't be surprised to see Coutinho go too, especially if Valverde is retained for the next season.

They would still have too many CBs.

 

[De Portago]

They would still have too many CBs.

Vermaelen is off surely, Lenglet is a rotational option at best. God knows what's the long term prognosis for Umtiti's knee, you can hardly rely on him 100% especially considering it is a chronic condition.

 

[Revan]

Surely we can manage a cheap deal here and there? Also every player doesn't cost 100 million anyway.

And if we sign both him and Koulibaly, we could easily sell 3 out of Rojo, Jones, Bailly, and Smalling, which would recuperate a lot of money both in fees and salaries.

It is hardly that we need many more players if we sign those two. A right back, a right-wing attacker (which could be financed from Sanchez/Lukaku sale) and maybe a midfielder if we decide that Fred is shit for good.

Koulibaly and him, with De Gea behind them would make our defense very strong. I would be happy with either of them anyway, and while Koulibaly is the better player, I would prefer de Ligt.

 

[mav_9me]

And if we sign both him and Koulibaly, we could easily sell 3 out of Rojo, Jones, Bailly, and Smalling, which would recuperate a lot of money both in fees and salaries.

It is hardly that we need many more players if we sign those two. A right back, a right-wing attacker (which could be financed from Sanchez/Lukaku sale) and maybe a midfielder if we decide that Fred is shit for good.

Koulibaly and him, with De Gea behind them would make our defense very strong. I would be happy with either of them anyway, and while Koulibaly is the better player, I would prefer de Ligt.

Esp if it is 100m or so for either of them.

 

[Revan]

Esp if it is 100m or so for either of them.

I don't see De Ligt costing more than De Jong, so probably 70-80m (EUR) will do for him. Add another 100m for Koulibaly. That's in total around 150m pounds. We can get almost half of that by selling Rojo, Bailly, Jones and Darmian (+ the release in wages from selling them and letting Valencia go would more than cover Koulibaly's and De Ligt salaries). I don't think that it is going to happen especially with Lindeloff playing so good under Ole though, but it is nice to dream.

 

[Coxy]

And if we sign both him and Koulibaly, we could easily sell 3 out of Rojo, Jones, Bailly, and Smalling, which would recuperate a lot of money both in fees and salaries.

It is hardly that we need many more players if we sign those two. A right back, a right-wing attacker (which could be financed from Sanchez/Lukaku sale) and maybe a midfielder if we decide that Fred is shit for good.

Koulibaly and him, with De Gea behind them would make our defense very strong. I would be happy with either of them anyway, and while Koulibaly is the better player, I would prefer de Ligt.

Me too. More about our values and buying the best youth again. It's a no brainer for me.

 

[We need an rvn]

The way Woodie has been over the last few years I can easily see us missing out on this one due to how slowly we act at times in the transfer market.

Personally I think this kid is the real deal and we should be signing him up now, even if it means getting him in the summer like Barca have done with De Jong and Bayern with Pavard

 

[izec]

Koulibaly and De Ligt would be the best CB pairing in world football, quite comfortably. With De Gea behind them, we would be back to almost Rio-Vidic and behind them VDS type of defensive core.

But it wont happen, it only will be one of them and knowing us, we will try for Koulibaly. Hope we also get him, i can see that dragging on the whole summer and then going for Toby Alderweireld as the budget option while De Ligt will be snapped up quickly by someone.

 

[arthurka]

Surely we can manage a cheap deal here and there? Also every player doesn't cost 100 million anyway.

Do you really believe that.. De Ligt and Koulibaly will cost close to 200m, that leaves 100m for a RB,CM and a RW it´s not happening.
At least I find it hard to believe.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Do you really believe that.. De Ligt and Koulibaly will cost close to 200m, that leaves 100m for a RB,CM and a RW it´s not happening.
At least I find it hard to believe.

I don't believe we'll sign two CBs.

Also, you can sign players for 30-50 million. It does happen.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Koulibaly and De Ligt would be the best CB pairing in world football, quite comfortably. With De Gea behind them, we would be back to almost Rio-Vidic and behind them VDS type of defensive core.

But it wont happen, it only will be one of them and knowing us, we will try for Koulibaly. Hope we also get him, i can see that dragging on the whole summer and then going for Toby Alderweireld as the budget option while De Ligt will be snapped up quickly by someone.

Rio Vidic? I doubt those two will be that good even if we signed them.

 

[onemanarmy]

Just read in the leading Belgian sport website (part of our national tv network) that de Ligt prefers Juventus. He'd be the successor of Chiellini. Would make sense tbh. I don't think we are the most attractive club for him at the moment, although the vibe has changed since Ole has come in.

 

[Aloysius's Back 3]

Could

Lindelöf - Bailly - De ligt work?

I only ask because if we go for De ligt - then he is most suited to playing next to Bailly in my opinion. If we go for Koulibaliy then Lindelöf is the best partner for him.

Would playing all 3 work? What would be their weaknesses?

I think Bailly would be fantastic last gasp sweeper rather than the first point of defence. Let Lindelöf & De ligt be the cool heads that defend first as well as dictate our play from the back. Let Bailly be the rock stone guarding those two more so than guarding an attacker per se.

 

[arthurka]

I don't believe we'll sign two CBs.

Also, you can sign players for 30-50 million. It does happen.

Exactly. Three players for over a 100m isn´t far fetched at all. I also wrote earlier that I couldn´t see us spend 300m in one window we have never done it.
So we really need to prioritize what we need there. A ready made one or someone that needs a bit of time?
I think we will go for Koulibaly and that means missing out on De Ligt.

 

[izec]

Rio Vidic? I doubt those two will be that good even if we signed them.

Close as we could get nowadays, of course not on that level.